A huge number of us decided to welcome new puppies into our homes in the last two years – Kennel Club figures show dog ownership soared and post-lockdown demand for four-legged friends remains high.
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
Our lifestyle has a huge bearing on which type of dog will work best for us – if you have limited space you might want to look at small dogs, while the more elderly pet owner should place certain breeds at the top of their wishlist.
Meanwhile, certain breeds have a reputation for being timid, meaning they may be shy and unwilling to join in games with other dogs, or welcome strangers to your home.
Here are the 10 most timid breeds of dog according to the American Kennel Club.
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9. Dalmation
It's by no means the case that all Dalmations are shy, but they are a very sensitive breed that can take offence easily and won't always welcome strangers. If your Dalmation is behaving in a timid way it's best to remove them from the situation as the shyness can turn into aggression. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. Greyhound
While a happy Greyhound will be sociable with both humans and other dogs, they can take a while to settle into a new home and will be timid until they are comfortable in their environment. That's doubly the case if you are rehoming a rescue Greyhound and some loving patience is required to get them out of their shell. Photo: Canva/Getty Images